Scale.



PATENTEDOCT. 23, 1906.

O. T. BOUL'I'ON.

SCALE.'

APPLIOATION FILED 113.26. 190e.

` 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'N0.8 33,868. PATENTBD OCT. 23, 1906.

0. 'I'. BOULTON.4

SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED maze. 190e.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

0 Cb.' @Qu No. saeee.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 23, 190e.

Application filed February 26; 1.906. Serial No. 303,015.

To all Awhom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ORRIN T. BoULToN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Cov.

ington, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scales, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to Weighing-scales, and particularly to pitless wagon-scales.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction for scales of this type wherein the factor of safety will be increased by avariation in the ratio of levers, whereby the load will be supported nearer the fulcrum than is possible in such scales as ordinarily constructed. The said variation in the leverage will further decrease the proportionate pull exerted upon the weighing-beam andintermediate parts, thus avoiding undue straining of said parts.

A further object is to provide a construc-y tion wherein the bearings may be protected from dirt or grit and the effects of inclement weather, while not interfering with the necessary swing or vibratory movements of the platform.

Further objects are to provide means -to prevent undue friction between the various clevises and adjacent parts, to provide an improved form of engagement-notch for the weighing-beam, and to arrange the respective knife-edge bearings of the various -levers in more efficient relation.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will appear from the speciiication, the invention consists of the construction, the devices and parts, or their equivalents hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the scale with a portion of the platform-ilooring reinovediandexalso the weighing-beam. Fig. la is a detail showing the method of connecting the scale-frame. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showin@ a portion of the transverse orrock shaft with its supporting connection to the scale-frame, the bearing for the platform-beam, and the connection for the long or flat lever. Fig. 3 is a perspective detailed view of a portion of the rock-shaft from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cross-lever connections. F ig. A5 is a pers ective View of one end of one of the platform-eams. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the rock-shaft connections, showing-the protecting-,shield for the support-bearing, also 'diagrammatically illustrating vthe si's relative location of the knife-edged bearings. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the cross-lever,

showing the relative location of the respective bearings. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the weighing-beam. Figs. 9 and 10 are details of the poise. Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail View of one of the engagement-notches of the weighing beams. Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views of improved form of clevis.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the lseveral views.

Referring to the drawings by letter, 'a represents a rectangular frame formed of sections of channel-iron set on edge and secured at the corners by reinforcing-plates a,as shown in Fig. la. the end portion of the said frame by bolts or rivets are brackets a2, having su portinghooks a3 for engagement of the c evfises a4, by which the respective rock-shafts are supported. The rock-shafts b are located at opposite ends of the scale-frame and consist of a shaft or pipe, having at suitable intervals lugs b, carrying thereon knife-edged bearings b2. b directly opposite the lugs b isa lug b3, having a knife-edgedl bearing b4 engaging with the supporting-clevises a4. The rock-shaft b.

at points adjacent to the said lugs b and b3 is reduced in thickness in order that the knifeedged bearings b2 and b4 may be located cornparatively close to each other. retain the required strength, the rock-shaft b at the point of its reduced thickness is increased in height, as shown at b5.

Formed at one end of the rock-shaft b is a lug b for engagement with the end ofthe long or flat lever c, which at its opposite end bears, on the stirrup c', supported upon the cross-lever c2.' By decreasing the thickness of the rock-shaft, as at b5, and the distance betweenthe knifeedged bearings b2 and b4 greater loads may .be safeiy supported without danger of straining or breaking the parts, and, further, by the ratio of the distance between the said bearings b2 and b4 and the distance between the bearing b4 and the bearing of the long or flat lever c upon 4the stirrup c Secured on the interior of Projecting from the rock-shaft ln order to IOC) the proportionate load carried by said stirflat lever is formed with a recess t7, into which projects a corresponding rib on the yend of said long lever, the long lever being secured to the rock-shaft by two bolts passing through suitable openings bs. The crosslever c2 is supported upon the main frame of the scale entirely independent of the platform-beams or the levers by a chair c3, which projects inward from the side of the main 1o` frame and has formed therein suitable bearings for the fulcrumed bearing c4 of said crosslever c2. The bearing c", upon which is supported the stirrup c', 1s located quite close to the fulcrumed bearing c4 in proportion to the length of the cross-lever, which further tends to reduce the pull transmitted to the weighing-beam.

' Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, it will be noted, las indicated in the dot-and-dash lines, that 2o the bearing b2 ofthe rock-shaft' and the bearing c5 of the cross-lever are located slightly above the fulcrum-point ofsaid levers when the levers are in their normal position. This has been found in practice to be the mcst 2 5 effective arrangement for the knife-edged bearings. Referring also to Fig. 6, b is a shield of sheet metal secured to the main frame a immediately over the bracket a2 and extendin to a point substantially over the 3o center o the rock-shaft b. This shield bi protects the knife-ed ed bearing b4 from dirt and grit or rain an snow which may sift through between the edgeof the platformflooring and main frame. The cross-lever c bears at its outerextremity on the stirrup c, which in turn is connected to clevises c7 of the weighing-beam, heretofore described. The platform-beams, which rest at their opposite extremities on the knife-edged bearings b2 of 4o the respective rock-shafts b, are formed of two pieces of channel-irond d, turned back to ack, having an interposed strip of wood d', the parts being secured togetherr by a plurality of bolts. yThe strip of wood d is not so long as the channel-irons d d. Between the projecting ends of the channel-irons d d at the opposite extremities of the beam is secured by suitable bolts a lug d2, having on its bottom a bearing-,surface d3 to engage the 5o knife-edged bearing b2. The bearing-surface d3 is slightly concave in cross-section, taken on its `shortest dimensions, but is slightly convex` throughout its greater dimension, somewhat in the nature of a rocker. By this construction any inaccuracy due to the construction of the platform or the subsequent settling of the frame will be compensated for. The lug d2 is rovided with a iange d", having therein a 6o which the end boards of the platform may be secured in place. The object of the wooden strip d is to provide means whereby the re- `ma1ning floor-boards may be secured to th platform-beams by nails or screws. l The weighing-beam, as illustrated in Fig. 8',

olt-hole d5, by-

consists of a main beam e, graduated in large units of Weightmfor instance, units of two hundred` pounds. Below the main beam e is an auxiliary beam e divided by a stop e2 into two scale-beams e3 and e". The beam e3 is 7o divided into fractional parts of the unit employed on the beam e. Thus if the units of the beam e are two hundred pounds the beam e3 would be graduated to weigh from zero to two hundred pounds. The beam et is a tare- 7 5 beam. It has been found in practice that when using aV poise having a spring-detent with the scaleeam having the ordinary V- shaped notches the detent Awould not always be properly centered In the notches 8o by a careless operator, but would stop to one f side the notch center, which variation, though slight, would be serious when it occurred on a beam graduated in large units of weight, as our previous example of two hundred pounds. To obviate this difliculty in the present device, there has been provided an improved formv of notch, as illustrated in Fig. 11, the side of the notch nearest the fulcrum of the beam being slightly undercut. The cus- 9o thmary operation in weighing is to move the poise outward from the fulcrum of the beam. With the notch as shown in Fig. 11 the detent upon reaching the notch will fall directly to the proper point and cannot after entering the notch stop short of the center. In Figs. 9 and 1() are il ustrated the poise especially adapted to be em loyed with a beam having such notches.v he beam is preferably provided with opposite rojectin ledges roo e5, the poise being provided with ro lers e, supporting the same on said ledges e5. A lever e7 is pivoted within the poise and is engaged by a spring e8, which tends to throw the forward en d of said lever downward into 105 engagement with the notches of the beam.

In scales subject to rough usage, as are wagon-scales, it sometimes happens that the ,various clevises by accidental jar are moved laterally until they come in contact with 11o the beam or the lugs of the beam supporting the knife-edged bearings and retard the operation of the scale. To obviate Athis difi'ieulty, there is provided on the inner surface of the clevises a4 of the rock-shafts and I I5 the respective clevises of the weighing-beam inward-projecting 'points f, preferably located as near the knife-edged bearing as practical. rFhese points f are not normally in contact with the beam or lug, but are de- 12o signed only to comein contact with said beam or lug upon the undue movement of the clevises, and in'such cases provide a reduced bearing-surface.

From the above description it will be a parent that there has been produced a weighlng-scale possessing the particular features of advantages hereinbefore enumerated and which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detailed con- 13o struction and arrangement ofparts without bearings, and a weighing-beam connected to departing` from the principle of novelty or sacrificing its many advantages.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a weighing scale, a rectangular frame, upwardly-disposed hooks carried by said frame, a rock-shaft, outward-projecting lugs on said shaft, oppositely-disposed knifeedge bearings on sald lugs, clevises engaging said knife-edge bearings and supported on said hooks, mward-projecting lugs, knifeedge bearings connecting said lugs in pairs,

longitudinal platform-beams resting on said' bearings and intermediate said lugs, anda shield connected to the frame and-extending beyond the opening between the platform and frame to protect the supporting-bearings of said rock-shaft, substantially as specified.

2. In a weighing scale, a rectangular frame, upwardly-disposed hooks carried by said frame, a rock-shaft having projecting bearings supported on said hooks, said rockshaft being reduced in thickness at points adjacent to said bearings whereby saidbearings may be more closely arranged in their relation to each other, a platform supported on one set of said bearings, a weighing-lever, and connections from said weighing-lever to said rock-shaft, substantially as specified.

3. In, a weighing scale. a rectangularv frame, arock-shaft supported on said frame, l

bearings on said rock-shaft, a reduced portion in said shaft adjacent to said bearings, said vbearings being so arranged that they will be out of alinement when in their normal position, a platform, and a weighing-beam connected to said rock-shaft, substantially as specified.

4. In a weighing scale, a rectangular frame, a rock-shaft supported on said frame, projectinglugs on said rock-shaft having knife-edge-bearings, platform-beams engaging said bearings, comprising two channelirons, an interposed strip of wood, lugs secured to said channel-irons'to engage said said rock-shaft, substantially as specified.

5. In a weighing scale, a rectangular frame, rock-shafts supported on said frame,

long levers secured to said rock-shafts, a platform supported on said rock-shafts, a crosslever supported entirely independent of said platform, a chair by-which lsaid cross-lever is supported secured to said frame, stirrups connecting said long levers and said cross-lever, a Weighing-beam connected to said crosslever, substantially as specified.

-6. In a weighing scale, a rectangular frame, rock-shafts supported on said frame, reduced portions in said rock-shafts, long which said flooring is secured, substantially as specified.

8. In a weighingfscale, a main frame, a platform, a system of platform-levers, a crosslever, a scale-beam connected thereto, a supporting-chair for said cross-lever, comprising arms projecting inward from the main frame and rlgidly secured thereto, bearings on sald arms for the knife-edge bearings of said cross. lever, whereby said cross-lever will be fulcrulned in close proximity to its load and working points, substantially as specified.

9. In a weighing-scale, a main frame, a platform, a transverse shaft forming a part of a system of platform-levers, and a Weighingbeam, said transverse shaft being supported on the ma'in frame and in turn supporting said platform, reduced portions in said transverse shaft adjacent to the bearing-points whereby the leverage between said bearing' points will be shortened, substantially as specified.-

10. Ina weighin -scale, a main frame, a

platform,as stemo platform-levers,across ever, a Sca e-beam connected thereto, said cross flever projecting beyond the' main frame, a supporting-chair for said cross-lever comprising arms rigidly secured to the main IGO frame and projecting toward the fulcrum of said lever, and bearings on said' arms for the fulcrum-bearings of said lever, substantially as specified. a

11. In a weighing-scale, a main frame, a platform, a system of platform-levers, a crosslever, a scale-beam connected thereto, arms rigidly secured to the main frame and projecting inward on oppositesides of said crosslever upon which said cross-beam is fulcrumed, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of February, A.. D. 1906; l

' ORRI'N T. BOULTON.

Witnesses:

CHAs. I. WELCH, CLARA GALLAGHER.

IIO 

